Cell Signalling

Neuronal Signaling is involved in the regulation of the mechanisms of the central nervous system (CNS) such as its structure, function, genetics and physiology as well as how this can be applied to understand diseases of the nervous system. Every information processing system in the CNS is composed of neurons and glia, neurons have evolved unique capabilities for intracellular signaling (communication within the cell) and intercellular signaling (communication between cells). G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including 5-HT receptor, histamine receptor, opioid receptor, etc. are the largest class of sensory proteins and are important therapeutic targets in Neuronal Signaling. Besides, Notch signaling, such as β- and γ-secretase, also plays multiple roles in the development of the CNS including regulating neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation, survival, self-renewal and differentiation. GPCR dysfunction caused by receptor mutations and environmental challenges contributes to many neurological diseases. Notch signaling in neurons, glia, and NSCs is also involved in pathological changes that occur in disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and CNS tumors. Thus, targeting Neuronal Signaling, such as notch signaling and GPCRs, can be used as therapeutic interventions for several different CNS disorders.

MCE designs a unique collection of 3,802 Neuronal Signaling-related compounds that act as a useful tool for the research of neuronal regulation and neuronal diseases.

Bioactive compounds are a general term for a class of substances that can cause certain biological effects in the body, which are the main source of small molecule drugs. These compounds generally penetrate cell membranes, act on specific target proteins in cells, regulate intracellular signaling pathways, and cause some changes in cell phenotype.

MCE owns a unique collection of 26,192 compounds with confirmed biological activities and clear targets. These compounds include natural products, innovative compounds, approved compounds, and clinical compounds. These can also be used for signal pathway research, drug discovery and drug repurposing, etc.

Adult stem cells are important for tissue homeostasis and regeneration due to their ability to self-renew and generate multiple types of differentiated daughters. Self-renewal is reflected by their capacity to undergo multiple/limitless divisions. Several signaling pathways are involved in self-renewal of stem cells, that is, Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog pathways or Polycomb family proteins. Recent studies mainly focus on cancer stem cell (CSCs), induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs), neural stem cell and maintenance of embryonic stem cell pluripotency. Among them, CSCs have been believed to be responsible for tumor initiation, growth, and recurrence that have implications for cancer therapy.

MCE owns a unique collection of 2,723 compounds that can be used for stem cell regulatory and signaling pathway research.

The developmental proteins Hedgehog, Notch and Wnt are key regulators of cell fate, proliferation, migration and differentiation in several tissues. Their related signaling pathways are frequently activated in tumors, and particularly in the rare subpopulation of cancer stem cells. The Wnt signaling pathway is a conserved pathway in animals. Deregulated Wnt signaling has catastrophic consequences for the developing embryo and it is now well appreciated that defective Wnt signaling is a causative factor for a number of pleiotropic human pathologies, including cancer. Hedgehog signaling pathway is linked to tumorigenesis and is aberrantly activated in a variety of cancers. The Notch signaling pathway is a highly conserved cell signaling system present in most animals. It plays an important role in cell-cell communication, and further regulates embryonic development.

MCE designs a unique collection of 601 Wnt/Hedgehog/Notch signaling pathway-related small molecules. Wnt/Hedgehog/Notch Compound Library serves as a useful tool for stem cell research and anti-cancer drug screening.

Bioactive compounds are a general term for a class of substances that can cause certain biological effects in the body, which are the main source of small molecule drugs. These compounds generally penetrate cell membranes, act on specific target proteins in cells, regulate intracellular signaling pathways, and cause some changes in cell phenotype.

MCE owns a unique collection of 32,710 compounds with confirmed biological activities and clear targets. These compounds include natural products, innovative compounds, approved compounds, and clinical compounds. This library is a useful tool for signal pathway research, drug discovery and drug repurposing, etc.

Bioactive Compound Library Plus, with more powerful screening capability, further complements Bioactive Compound Library (HY-L001) by adding some compounds with low solubility or solution stability (Part B) and some novel, rare or exclusive compounds (Part C) to this library. Overall, bioactive compound library plus (HY-L001P) includes tree parts: Part A, Part B and Part C. Compounds in Part A are equal to the products in HY-L001, which can be supplied in solution or solid form. Compounds in Part B and C are only supplied in solid form.

MAPK families play an important role in complex cellular programs like proliferation, differentiation, development, transformation, and apoptosis. In mammalian cells, four MAPK families have been clearly characterized: ERK1/2, C-Jun N-terminal kinse/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) , p38 kinase and ERK5. They respond to different signals. Each MAPK-related cascade consists of three enzymes that are activated in series: a MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK), a MAPK kinase (MAPKK) and a MAP kinase (MAPK). MAPK signaling pathways has been implicated in the development of many human diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and various types of cancers.

MCE designs a unique collection of 1,063 MAPK signaling pathway inhibitors that act as a useful tool for MAPK-related drug screening and disease research.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and seriously threatens human health. A neoplasm and malignant tumor are other common names for cancer. Disruption of the normal regulation of cell-cycle progression and division lies at the heart of the events leading to cancer. Target therapy, which targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, divide and spread, plays an important role in cancer treatment. Recent studies mainly focus on targeting the key proteins for cancer surviving, cancer stem cells, the tumor microenvironment, tumor immunology, etc.

MCE designs a unique collection of 10,664 anti-cancer compounds that target kinases, cell cycle key components, tumorigenesis related signaling pathways, etc. MCE Anti-cancer compound library is a useful tool for anti-cancer drug screening.

Ferroptosis is a novel type of cell death program that is distinct from apoptosis, necroptosis and autophagy. It is dependent on iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and is characterized by lipid peroxidation. As a novel type of cell death, ferroptosis has distinct properties and recognizing functions involved in physical conditions or various diseases including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, acute renal failure, etc.

MCE carefully collected a unique collection of 1,177 ferroptosis signaling pathway related compounds with ferroptosis-inducing or -inhibitory activity. MCE Ferroptosis Compound Library is a useful tool to study ferroptosis mechanism as well as related diseases.

Techniques for reprogramming somatic cells create new opportunities for drug screening, disease modeling, artificial organ development, and cell therapy. The development of reprogramming techniques has grown exponentially since Yamanaka reprogrammed somatic cells to become induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using four transcription factors, OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC in 2006. Despite the development of efficient reprogramming methods, most methods are inappropriate for clinical applications because they carry the risk of integrating exogenous genetic factors or use oncogenes. Alternative approaches, such as those based on miRNA, non-viral genes, non-integrative vectors, and small molecules, have been studied as possible solutions to the problems. Among these alternatives, small molecules are attractive options for clinical applications. Reprogramming using small molecules is inexpensive and easy to control in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. It offers a high level of cell permeability, ease of synthesis and standardization, and it is appropriate for mass-producing cells.

MCE Reprogramming Compound Library contains a unique collection of 3,086 compounds that act on reprogramming signaling pathways. These compounds are potential stimulators for reprogramming. This library is a useful tool for researching reprogramming and regenerative medicine.

GPCRs are a large family of cell surface receptors that respond to a variety of external signals. Binding of a signaling molecule to a GPCR results in G protein activation, which in turn triggers the production of any number of second messengers. GPCRs play an important role in the human body, and increased understanding of these receptors has greatly affected modern medicine. In fact, researchers estimate that between one-third to one-half of all approved drugs act by binding to GPCRs. GPCRs are a large group of drug targets in drug discovery.

MCE provides a unique collection of 3,389 small molecules targeting GPCRs that can be used in the screening for various GPCRs-related research and drug development projects.

The endocrine system is a chemical messenger system comprising feedback loops of the hormones released by internal glands of an organism directly into the circulatory system, regulating distant target organs. Hormones are chemicals that serve to communicate between organs and tissues for physiological regulation and behavioral activities. Hormones affect distant cells by binding to specific receptor proteins in the target cell, resulting in a change in cell function.

The endocrine system is concerned with the integration of developmental events proliferation, growth, and differentiation, and the psychological or behavioral activities of metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sleep, digestion, respiration, excretion, mood, stress, lactation, movement, reproduction, and sensory perception caused by hormones. Irregulated hormone release, inappropriate response to signaling or lack of a gland can lead to endocrine disease.

MCE offers a unique collection of 1,050 endocrinology related compounds targeting varieties of hormone receptors such as thyroid hormone receptor, TSH receptor, GNRH receptor, adrenergic receptor, etc. MCE Endocrinology Compound Library is a useful tool for the discovery of endocrinology drugs.

Stem cells, which are found in all multi-cellular organisms, can divide and differentiate into diverse special cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells. To be useful in therapy, stem cells must be converted into desired cell types as necessary which is called induced differentiation or directed differentiation. Understanding and using signaling pathways for differentiation is an important method in successful regenerative medicine. Small molecules or growth factors induce the conversion of stem cells into appropriate progenitor cells, which will later give rise to the desired cell type. There is a variety of signal molecules and molecular families that may affect the establishment of germ layers in vivo, such as fibroblast growth factors (FGFs); the wnt family or superfamily of transforming growth factors β (TGFβ) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP). Unfortunately, for now, a high cost of recombinant factors is likely to limit their use on a larger scale in medicine. The more promising technique focuses on the use of small molecules. These small molecules can be used for either activating or deactivating specific signaling pathways. They enhance reprogramming efficiency by creating cells that are compatible with the desired type of tissue. It is a cheaper and non-immunogenic method.

MCE Differentiation Inducing Compound Library contains a unique collection of 2,405 compounds that act on signaling pathways for differentiation. These compounds are potential stimulators for induced differentiation. This library is a useful tool for researching directed differentiation and regenerative medicine.

Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are key signaling molecules and important drug targets. Two classes of PTKs are present in cells: the transmembrane receptor PTKs (RTKs) and the nonreceptor PTKs. The RTK family includes the receptors for insulin and for many growth factors, such as EGFR, FGFR, PDGFR, VEGFR, and NGFR. RTKs are transmembrane glycoproteins that are activated by the binding of their ligands, and they transduce the extracellular signal to the cytoplasm by phosphorylating tyrosine residues on the receptors themselves (autophosphorylation) and on downstream signaling proteins. Their principal functions of PTKs involve the regulation of multicellular aspects of the organism. Cell to cell signals concerning growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and death are frequently transmitted through tyrosine kinases. In humans, tyrosine kinases have been demonstrated to play significant roles in the development of many disease states, including diabetes and cancers.

MCE designs a unique collection of 1,578 compounds that act as a useful tool for PTKs-related drug screening and disease research.

Bioactive compounds are a general term for a class of substances that can cause certain biological effects in the body, which are the main source of small molecule drugs. These compounds generally penetrate cell membranes, act on specific target proteins in cells, regulate intracellular signaling pathways, and cause some changes in cell phenotype.

MCE high-throughput bioactive compound library integrates 28,858 spot and futures bioactive compounds with confirmed biological activities and clear targets. These compounds can also be used for signal pathway research, drug discovery and drug repurposing, etc.

Membrane receptors, also known cell surface receptors or transmembrane receptors, are transmembrane proteins embedded into the plasma membrane which play an essential role in maintaining communication between the internal processes within the cell and various types of extracellular signals. They act in cell signaling by receiving (binding to) extracellular molecules, which are also called ligands. These extracellular molecules include hormones, cytokines, growth factors, neurotransmitters, lipophilic signaling molecules such as prostaglandins, and cell recognition molecules.

There are three kinds of membrane receptors: ion channel-linked receptors, enzyme-linked receptors and G-protein-linked receptors. They play important roles in keeping human normal physiologic processes. GPCRs and ion channels are important drug targets in drug discovery.

MCE provides a unique collection of 6,857 compounds targeting a variety of membrane receptors. MCE Membrane reeptor-targeted Compound Library can be used for membrane receptor-focused screening and drug discovery.

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Rel proteins include NF-κB2 p52/p100, NF-κB1 p50/p105, c-Rel, RelA/p65, and RelB. These proteins function as dimeric transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes and influence a broad range of biological processes including innate and adaptive immunity, inflammation, stress responses, B-cell development, and lymphoid organogenesis. NF-κB plays a key role in regulating the immune response to infection. In addition, activation of the NF-κB pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Incorrect regulation of NF-κB has been linked to cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, septic shock, viral infection, and improper immune development.

MCE owns a unique collection of 1,670 small molecule compounds that can be used in the research of NF-κB signaling pathway or high throughput screening (HTS) related drug discovery.

Apoptosis is an ordered and orchestrated cellular process that occurs in physiological and pathological conditions, which is also called programmed cell death (PCD). Apoptosis plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining the health of the body by eliminating old cells, unhealthy cells and unnecessary cells. Too little or too much apoptosis contribute to many diseases. When apoptosis does not work correctly, cells that should be eliminated may persist and become immortal, for example, in cancer and leukemia. When apoptosis works overly well, it kills too many cells and inflicts grave tissue damage. This is the case in strokes and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's disease.

MCE designs a unique collection of 3,407 apoptosis-related compounds mainly focusing on the key targets in the apoptosis signaling pathway and can be used in the research of apoptosis signal pathway and related diseases.

Mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes can modify multiple signaling pathways and in turn cell metabolism, which facilitates tumorigenesis. The paramount hallmark of tumor metabolism is “aerobic glycolysis” or the Warburg effect, coined by Otto Warburg in 1926, in which cancer cells produce most of energy from glycolysis pathway regardless of whether in aerobic or anaerobic condition. Usually, cancer cells are highly glycolytic (glucose addiction) and take up more glucose than do normal cells from outside. The increased uptake of glucose is facilitated by the overexpression of several isoforms of membrane glucose transporters (GLUTs). Likewise, the metabolic pathways of glutamine, amino acid and fat metabolism are also altered. Recent trends in anti-cancer drug discovery suggests that targeting the altered metabolic pathways of cancer cells result in energy crisis inside the cancer cells and can selectively inhibit cancer cell proliferation by delaying or suppressing tumor growth.

MCE provides a unique collection of 3,552 compounds which cover various tumor metabolism-related signaling pathways. These compounds can be used for anti-cancer metabolism targets identification, validation as well anti-cancer drug discovery.

The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway is involved in many cellular processes in both the adult organism and the developing embryo including cell growth, cell differentiation, apoptosis, cellular homeostasis and other cellular functions. The TGF-β superfamily comprises TGF-βs, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), activins and related proteins. Signaling begins with the binding of a TGF beta superfamily ligand to a TGF beta type II receptor. The type II receptor is a serine/threonine receptor kinase, which catalyzes the phosphorylation of the Type I receptor. The type I receptor then phosphorylates receptor-regulated SMADs (R-SMADs) which can now bind the coSMAD (e.g. SMAD4). R-SMAD/coSMAD complexes accumulate in the nucleus where they act as transcription factors and participate in the regulation of target gene expression. Deregulation of TGF-β signaling contributes to developmental defects and human diseases, including cancers, some bone diseases, chronic kidney disease, etc.

MCE designs a unique collection of 413 TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway compounds. TGF-beta/Smad Compound Library acts as a useful tool for TGF-beta/Smad-related drug screening and disease research.

Blood cancers, also called hematologic cancers, occur when abnormal blood cells start growing out of control, interrupting the function of normal blood cells, which fight off infection and produce new blood cells. Most blood cancers start in the bone marrow, which is where blood is produced. There are three main types of blood cancers: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, which afflict millions of children and adults every year, and are often deadly.

Some common blood cancer treatments include stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or a combination thereof. As we begin to understand the key signaling pathways and molecular drivers of malignant transformation in haematological disorders, new treatment strategies will continue to be developed.

MCE offers a unique collection of 4,121 compounds with identified and potential anti-blood cancer activity. These compounds target blood cancer’s major targets and signaling pathways. MCE anti-blood cancer compound library is a useful tool for anti-blood cancer drugs screening and other related research.

Programmed cell death pathways, including apoptosis, pyroptosis and necroptosis, are regulated by unique sets of host proteins that coordinate a variety of biological outcomes. Pyroptosis is a highly inflammatory form of programmed cell death that occurs most frequently upon infection with intracellular pathogens and is likely to form part of the antimicrobial response. This process promotes the rapid clearance of various bacterial, viral, fungal and protozoan infections by removing intracellular replication niches and enhancing the host's defensive responses. Pyroptosis has been widely studied in inflammatory and infection disease models. Recently, there are growing evidences that pyroptosis also plays an important role in the development of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and Metabolic disorder, etc.

MCE designs a unique collection of 1,885 pyroptosis-related compounds mainly focusing on the key targets in the pyroptosis signaling pathway and can be used in the research of pyroptosis signal pathway and related diseases.

The cytoskeleton is responsible for contraction, cell motility, movement of organelles and vesicles through the cytoplasm, cytokinesis, intracellular signal transduction, and many other functions that are essential for cellular homeostasis and survival. It accomplishes these tasks through three basic structures: F-actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments (IFs). The cytoskeleton is a dynamic structure where the three major filaments and tubules are under the influence of proteins that regulate their length, state of polymerization, and level of cross-linking. Since cytoskeleton is involved in virtually all cellular processes, cytoskeletal protein aberrations are the underlying reason for many pathological phenotypes, including several cardiovascular disease syndromes, neurodegeneration, cancer, liver cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and blistering skin diseases.

MCE designs a unique collection of 2,148 cytoskeleton-related compounds mainly focusing on the key targets in the cytoskeleton signal pathway and can be used in the research of cytoskeleton signal pathway and related diseases.

Lipids are important energy storage substances in the human body. They are involved in the regulation of cell structure and function, as well as signaling pathways and gene expression. Abnormal lipid levels in tissues or their dysregulation can lead to various diseases. These include obesity, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, neurodegenerative diseases, infections, and cancer. Therefore, maintaining normal levels of lipid metabolism is critical to overall health.

One of the key features of cancer is aberrant lipid metabolism. This includes alterations in lipid uptake, lipid desaturation, neolipogenesis, lipid droplets, and fatty acid oxidation in cancer cells. These changes all contribute to cellular survival in an ever-changing microenvironment. They do this by modulating feed-forward oncogenic signals and key oncogenic functions. Additionally, they affect oxidative stress, other types of stress, immune responses, and intercellular communication. Alterations in lipid metabolism have a strong impact on the properties of cancer stem cells. This includes aspects such as self-renewal, differentiation, invasion, metastasis, drug sensitivity, and resistance. Furthermore, these alterations also modulate T cell responses.

MCE can offer 145 metabolites of lipid metabolism pathways, which can be used for drug screening in cancer, immune-based diseases, metabolic diseases, and other diseases.

Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, arises as adenocarcinoma from glandular epithelial cells of the large intestine comprised of the colon and rectum. The majority of cases of CRC are sporadic and result from risk factors, such as a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, processed diets, alcohol consumption and smoking. CRC is also a common preventable cancer.

Studies showed several cellular signaling pathways dysregulated in CRC, leading to the onset of malignant phenotypes. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the signaling pathways involved in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer to study the progression and drug treatment of colorectal cancer. Among them, Wnt/β-catenin, p53, TGF-β/SMAD, NF-κB, Notch, VEGF and other target genes and signaling pathways are the focus of research. MCE offers a unique collection of 2,491 compounds with identified and potential anti-colorectal cancer activity. MCE anti-colorectal cancer compound library is a useful tool for anti-colorectal cancer drugs screening and other related research.

Fatty acids (FAs) are the main components of lipids. The synthesis of fatty acids mainly involves the Triglyceride (TG) cycle and De Novo Lipogenesis (DNL). Fatty acids which exist widely in organisms are components of cell membranes and play an indispensable role in cell signaling. In addition, FFAs can be taken up from circulating plasma by all mitochondria-containing cells, and they are metabolized by β-oxidation and the citric acid cycle to release large amounts of energy in the form of ATP. Abnormal fatty acid metabolism is associated with the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, fatty liver, hyperthyroidism, and other diseases.

MCE offers a unique collection of fatty acid compounds. Fatty Acids Compound Library is an important tool for the study of energy metabolism and drug development of metabolism-related diseases.

Ion channel is a membrane-binding enzyme whose catalytic site is an ion conduction pore, which is opened and closed in response to specific environmental stimuli (voltage, ligand concentration, membrane tension, temperature, etc.). Ion channel provide pores for the passive diffusion of ions on the biofilm. Due to their high selectivity for ion, ion channel are generally classified as sodium (Na⁺ ), potassium (K⁺ ), calcium (Ca²⁺ ), chloride (Cl^- ), and non-specific cation channel. Ion channel is an important contributor to cell signal transduction and homeostasis. In addition to electrical signal transduction, ion channel also have many functions: regulating vascular smooth muscle contraction, maintaining normal cell volume, regulating glandular secretion, protein kinase activation, etc. Therefore, dysfunction of ion channel can lead to many diseases, and its mechanism research is particularly important.

MCE designs a unique collection of 1,679 small molecules related to ion channel, mainly targeting Na⁺ channel, K⁺ channel, Ca²⁺ channel, GABA receptor, iGluR, etc. It is an essential tool for research of cardiovascular diseases, Nervous system diseases and other diseases.

Protein Kinases (PTKs) are a class of phosphotransferases that phosphorylate proteins. Protein kinases participate in many signal transduction pathways including those involved with growth, differentiation, and cell division. Protein kinase not only plays an important role in the process of cell activation, but also its abnormal expression is closely related to the pathogenesis of many diseases. So far, the protein kinase family has become one of the most important drug targets. The most common drug targets include ALK, B-Raf, BCR-Abl, EGFR, and VEGFR.

MCE designs a unique collection of 4,332 bioactive compounds targeting protein kinases, which is an important tool for the development of drug targeting protein kinases.

Autoimmune disease is a pathological disease characterized by inflammatory disorders targeting autoantigens. The routine treatment of autoimmune diseases suppresses general immune function to regulate uncontrolled inflammation. The current targeted immunotherapy suppresses the main pro-inflammatory signaling pathways by blocking inflammatory cytokines, cell surface molecules, and intracellular kinases. As key participants in innate immunity, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial for Ag presentation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, such as TNF and IL-1 β、 IL-6, IL-23, B cell activating factor (BAFF), and the proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL, also known as TNFSF13A).

MCE designs a unique collection of 958 autoimmune disease-related compounds, covering multiple targets and subtypes, such as TNF Receptor, IFNAR, JAK, Btk, TLR, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, etc. It is a useful tool for screening autoimmune disease drugs.

Chemokines, or chemotactic cytokines, are small cytokines or signaling proteins secreted by cells. They are a component of intercellular communication, controlling the directional movement of immune cells especially leukocytes, as well as other cell types, for instance, endothelial and epithelial cells, which are essential to maintain human health and the function of the immune system.

The biological effects of chemokines are achieved by binding to chemokine receptors, which are G protein-coupled receptors found on the surface of leukocytes. Some chemokine receptors are involved in directing tumor metastasis and over-expression by certain tumors. So inhibiting the interaction between chemokine and chemokine receptors on the surface of tumor cells may be a new possible therapeutic approach. Some chemokine receptors are coreceptors for HIV entry, and related inhibitors have been approved by the FDA to treat patients with HIV. Obviously, chemokines and chemokine receptors have become new targets for studying cancer, HIV, inflammation, and other diseases.

MCE supplies a unique collection of 239 chemokine or chemokine receptor inhibitors and activators, all of which have the identified inhibitory or activated effect on chemokine or chemokine receptors. MCE Chemokine Library is a useful tool for drug research related to cancer, AIDS, and wound therapy.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contributes to the production and folding of approximately one third of cellular proteins, and is thus inextricably linked to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and the fine balance between health and disease. However, some adverse factors negatively impact ER functions and protein synthesis, resulting in the activation of Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress, ERS) and unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathways. The UPR is triggered when ER protein folding capacity is overwhelmed by cellular demand and the UPR initially aims to restore ER homeostasis and normal cellular functions. However, if this fails, then the UPR triggers cell death. Chronic ER stress and defects in UPR signaling are emerging as key contributors to a growing list of human diseases, including diabetes, neurodegeneration and cancer.

MCE Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Compound Library contains 356 ER stress-related compounds that mainly target PERK, IRE1, ATF6, etc. MCE ER stress library is a useful tool for researching ER stress and related diseases.

Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) are a crucial class of protein molecules expressed in cells of the innate immune system. The core function of Pattern Recognition Receptors is to recognize Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) and Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs). Upon recognizing and binding to PAMPs or DAMPs, PRRs rapidly initiate intracellular signaling pathways (such as the NF-κB, IRF, and inflammasome pathways). This triggers the production of inflammatory factors, chemokines, and type I interferons, thereby initiating inflammatory responses to eliminate pathogens or repair damage. PRRs represent the body's first line of defense against infection, and the rapidity and broad specificity of their response are crucial for host survival. However, aberrant activation of PRR signaling is also a cause of many chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, precisely regulating PRR activity has become a key therapeutic strategy for these conditions.

MCE has cataloged 313 inhibitors targeting key PRRs, such as NLRs, TLRs, C-type Lectin Receptors (CLRs), and cGAS, to support drug discovery efforts for chronic inflammatory diseases.

Diabetes mellitus, usually called diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level over a prolonged period of time. The most common types are Type I and Type II. Type I diabetes (T1D), also called juvenile onset diabetes mellitus or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is characterized by destruction of the β-cells of the pancreas and insulin is not produced, whereas type II diabetes (T2D), also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is characterized by a progressive impairment of insulin secretion and relative decreased sensitivity of target tissues to the action of this hormone. Type 2 diabetes accounts for the vast majority of all diabetes mellitus. Diabetes of all types can lead to complications in many parts of the body and can increase the overall risk of dying prematurely. Possible complications include kidney failure, leg amputation, vision loss and nerve damage.

The pathogenesis of diabetes is complicated, and development of the safe and effective drugs against diabetes is full of challenge. Increasing studies have confirmed that the pathogenesis of diabetes is related to various signaling pathways, such as insulin signaling pathway, AMPK pathway, PPAR regulation and chromatin modification pathways. These signaling pathways have thus become the major source of the promising novel drug targets to treat metabolic diseases and diabetes.

MCE Anti-diabetic Compound Library owns a unique collection of 1,113 compounds, which mainly target SGLT, PPAR, DPP-4, AMPK, Dipeptidyl Peptidase, Glucagon Receptor, etc. This library is a useful tool for discovery anti-diabetes drugs.

Glutamine is an important metabolic fuel that helps rapidly proliferating cells meet the increased demand for ATP, biosynthetic precursors, and reducing agents. Glutamine Metabolism pathway involves the initial deamination of glutamine by glutaminase(GLS), yielding glutamate and ammonia. Glutamate is converted to the TCA cycle intermediate α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) by either glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) or by the alanine or aspartate transaminases (TAs), to produce both ATP and anabolic carbons for the synthesis of amino acids, nucleotides and lipids. During periods of hypoxia or mitochondrial dysfunction, α-KG can be converted to citrate in a reductive carboxylation reaction catalyzed by IDH2. The newly formed citrate exits the mitochondria where it is used to synthesize fatty acids and amino acids and produce the reducing agent, NADPH.

Cancer cells display an altered metabolic circuitry that is directly regulated by oncogenic mutations and loss of tumor suppressors. Mounting evidence indicates that altered glutamine metabolism in cancer cells has critical roles in supporting macromolecule biosynthesis, regulating signaling pathways, and maintaining redox homeostasis, all of which contribute to cancer cell proliferation and survival. Thus, intervention in glutamine metabolic processes could provide novel approaches to improve cancer treatment.

MCE owns a unique collection of 1,690 compounds targeting the mainly proteins and enzymes involved in glutamine metabolism pathway. Glutamine Metabolism compound library is a useful tool for intervention in glutamine metabolic processes.

In the progression of various diseases, metabolic reprogramming has emerged as a key hallmark. Lactate, as an important metabolic signaling molecule, is widely involved in tumorigenesis, immune regulation, and inflammatory responses. Particularly within the tumor microenvironment, the abnormal accumulation of lactate not only affects cellular energy metabolism but also promotes disease progression by modulating immune cell functions and mediating protein lactylation, thereby participating in epigenetic regulation and signaling networks. Therefore, systematic investigation of lactate metabolic pathways and their associated metabolites is of great significance for understanding disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic strategies.

The MCE lactic acid metabolite compound library contains 63 compounds and is constructed around key metabolic pathways involving lactate production, transport, and utilization. This library systematically includes core intermediates from glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the lactate cycle. Focusing on disease-associated metabolic reprogramming, it is suitable for research in oncology, inflammation, and metabolic disorders. The library can be used to elucidate the roles of lactate in tumor microenvironment regulation, immune evasion, and epigenetic modifications (such as protein lactylation). In addition, it provides high-quality small-molecule resources for drug screening, facilitating the discovery of potential modulators targeting key enzymes (such as LDH) or transporters (such as MCTs) involved in lactate metabolism.

A membrane protein is a protein molecule that is attached to or associated with the membrane of a cell or an organelle. Membrane proteins can be classified into two groups based on how the protein is associated with the membrane: integral membrane proteins and peripheral membrane proteins. In humans, about 30% genome encodes membrane proteins. Membrane proteins perform a variety of functions vital to the survival of organisms, for example, signal transduction, molecules or ion transportation, enzymatic catalysis, and intercellular communication. Membrane proteins also play important roles in drug discovery. As reported, more than 60% of current drug targets are membrane proteins.

MCE supplies a unique collection of 7,678 compounds targeting a variety of membrane proteins. MCE Membrane Protein-targeted Compound Library can be used for membrane protein-focused screening and drug discovery.

Lipids are a diverse and ubiquitous group of compounds which have many key biological functions, such as acting as structural components of cell membranes, serving as energy storage sources and participating in signaling pathways. Several studies suggest that bioactive lipids have effects on the treatment of some mental illnesses and metabolic syndrome. For example, DHA and EPA are important for monoaminergic neurotransmission, brain development and synaptic functioning, and are also correlated with a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease in clinical and animal studies.

MCE supplies a unique collection of 1,266 lipid and lipid derivative related compounds including triglycerides, phospholipids, sphingolipids, steroids and their structural analogues or derivatives. MCE lipid compound library can be used for research in bioactive lipids, and high throughput screening (HTS) and high content screening (HCS).

Amino acids are indispensable building blocks for life activities and are widely involved in key biological processes such as cell signal transduction, energy metabolism, gene expression regulation, and neurotransmitter synthesis. As components of proteins, 20 kinds of amino acids make up over one million kinds of proteins in the human body. These amino acids can be classified into nine types of "essential amino acids" that the human body cannot synthesize on its own and must obtain from food, as well as eleven types of "non-essential amino acids" that the human body can synthesize on its own.

MCE offers 20 kinds of amino acids provided which can be applied in research fields such as the study of amino acid metabolic processes, metabolite identification, food/cosmetic ingredient research, and the development of nutritional supplements.

Kinases are enzymes that catalyze the addition of phosphate groups to substrate molecules, a process known as phosphorylation. Protein phosphorylation serves as a critical regulatory mechanism for numerous cellular processes, including cell division, metabolism, and signal transduction. The human genome encodes over 500 kinases, which collectively regulate approximately 50% of cellular functions. Due to their pivotal roles, kinases represent one of the most important target classes in drug development.

Kinase inhibitors can selectively block the activity of disease-associated kinases, making them valuable therapeutics for conditions such as cancer and inflammatory diseases. FDA-approved kinase inhibitors have undergone extensive preclinical and clinical studies, demonstrating high bioactivity, favorable safety profiles, and good bioavailability, rendering them suitable for investigating new therapeutic indications.

Neuropeptides are small proteins produced and released by neurons through the regulation of secretory pathways, expressed in neurons and have transmitter or co-transmitter functions, and are used as nerve substrates. Neuropeptides are by far the largest and most diverse signaling molecules in the brain and have been implicated in the development of diseases and drugs. Neuropeptides are involved in inflammatory and immune diseases and have an impact on epithelial, vascular, and connective tissue cells proliferation and tissue repair. Studies have shown that neuropeptides are particularly important when the nervous system is challenged, such as stress, injury, or substance abuse. Substance P is a neuropeptide that acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the central nervous system and is currently in clinical research and has been shown to be involved in inflammatory processes and pain.

MCE can provide 126 neuropeptides that can be used for scientific research.

Unlike the 20 natural amino acids commonly found within living organisms, non-natural amino acids are synthesized through chemical or biosynthetic methods, thereby being endowed with unique chemical properties or biological activities. In drug development, these amino acids can be utilized to design novel pharmaceutical molecules that may exhibit superior pharmacological characteristics, such as increased selectivity, improved pharmacokinetic profiles, or reduced toxicity. In biomedical research, uon-natural amino acids can act as biological markers or probes for investigating biological processes like cell signaling, protein conformation, and protein-protein interactions. In addition, non-natural amino acids can also be used in the field of agriculture to develop new pesticides, plant growth regulators and so on.

Most of molecules enter or leave cells mainly via membrane transport proteins, which play important roles in several cellular functions, including cell metabolism, ion homeostasis, signal transduction, the recognition process in the immune system, energy transduction, etc. There are three major types of transport proteins, ATP-powered pumps, channel proteins and transporters. Transport proteins such as channels and transporters play important roles in the maintenance of intracellular homeostasis, and mutations in these transport protein genes have been identified in the pathogenesis of a number of hereditary diseases. In the central nervous system, ion channels have been linked to, but not limited to, many diseases such asataxias, paralyses, epilepsies, and deafness. This indicates the roles of ion channels in the initiation and coordination of movement, sensory perception, and encoding and processing of information. Ion channels are a major class of drug targets in drug development.

MCE designs a unique collection of 2,174 smal-molecule modulators that can be used for the research of Ion Channel and Membrane Transporter or high throughput screening (HTS) related drug discovery.

The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway controls many cellular processes that are important for the formation and progression of cancer, including apoptosis, transcription, translation, metabolism, angiogenesis, and cell cycle progression. Every major node of this signaling network is activated in a wide range of human tumors. Mechanisms for the pathway activation include activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) upstream of PI3K, mutation or amplification of PIK3CA encoding p110α catalytic subunit of PI3K, mutation or loss of PTEN tumor suppressor gene, and mutation or amplification of Akt1. Once the pathway is activated, signaling through Akt can stimulate a series of substrates including mTOR which is involved in protein synthesis. Thus, inhibition of this pathway is an attractive concept for cancer prevention and/or therapy. Currently some mTOR inhibitors are approved for several indications, and there are several novel PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors in clinical trials.

MCE owns a unique collection of 1,049 compounds that can be used for PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway research. PI3K/Akt/mTOR Compound Library also acts as a useful tool for anti-cancer drug discovery.

Oxygen homeostasis regulation is the most fundamental cellular process for adjusting physiological oxygen variations, and its irregularity leads to various human diseases, including cancer. Hypoxia is closely associated with cancer development, and hypoxia/oxygen-sensing signaling plays critical roles in the modulation of cancer progression.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that functions as a master regulator of oxygen homeostasis. A variety of HF-1 target genes have been identified thus far which encode proteins that play key roles in critical developmental and physiological processes including angiogenesis/vascular remodeling, erythropoiesis, glucose transport, glycolysis, iron transport, and cell proliferation/survival.

HIF-1 is a heterodimeric transcription factor consisting of a constitutively expressed β-subunit and an oxygen-regulated α-subunit. The unique feature of HIF-1 is the regulation of HIF-1α expression and activity based upon the cellular O₂ concentration. Under normoxic conditions, hydroxylation of HIF-1α on these different proline residues is essential for HIF proteolytic degradation by promoting interaction with the von Hippel-Lindau tumor-suppressor protein (pVHL) through hydrogen bonding to the hydroxyproline-binding pocket in the pVHL β-domain. As oxygen levels decrease, hydroxylation of HIF decreases; HIF-1α then no longer binds pVHL, and becomes stabilized, allowing more of the protein to translocate to the cell’s nucleus, where it acts as a transcription factor, upregulating (often within minutes) the production of proteins that stimulate blood perfusion in tissues and thus tissue oxygenation.

MCE offers a unique collection of 4,029 oxygen sensing related compounds targeting HIF/HIF Prolyl-Hydroxylase, MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, etc. MCE Oxygen Sensing Compound Library is a useful tool to study hypoxia, oxidative stress and discover new anti-cancer drugs.

Lung cancer is a major global health problem, as it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Lung cancer is divided into two categories: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for about 85 percent of lung cancers.

As with all cancers, lung cancer may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or a combination thereof. Targeted therapy is one of the most exciting developments in lung cancer medicine, especially for NSCLC. Extensive genomic characterization of NSCLC has led to the identification of molecular subtypes of NSCLC that are oncogene addicted and exquisitely sensitive to targeted therapies. These include activating mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and BRAF or echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusions and ROS1 receptor tyrosine kinase fusions. These are important targets for target therapy.

MCE offers a unique collection of 2,886 compounds with identified and potential anti-lung cancer activity. These compounds target lung cancer’s major targets and signaling pathways. MCE anti-lung cancer compound library is a useful tool for anti-lung cancer drugs screening and other related research.

Copper is an important co-factor of all biological enzymes, but if the concentration exceeds the threshold of maintaining the homeostasis mechanism, copper will lead to cytotoxicity. This death mechanism has been named "Cuproptosis".

The mechanism of cuproptosis distinct from all other known mechanisms of regulated cell death, including apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis.

Copper combine with the lipoylated components of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), leading to lipoylated protein aggregation and subsequent loss of iron-sulfur cluster proteins, ultimately resulting in protein toxicity stress and cell death. Studies have shown that the necessary factors for cuproptosis include the presence of glutathione, mitochondrial metabolism of galactose and pyruvate, and glutamine metabolism.

Targeted regulation of cuproptosis is a potential choice to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases. For example, up-regulation of LIPT1 may inhibit the occurrence and development of tumors by destroying TCA in mitochondria and then inducing cuproptosis.

MCE supplies a unique collection of 403 cuproptosis-related compounds, all of which act on the targets or signaling pathways related to cuproptosis and may have in inhibitory or activated effect on cuproptosis. MCE Cuproptosis Library is a useful tool for drug research related to cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases.

Antibody inhibitors are compounds with the same activity as the original therapeutic antibodies, which can be used as positive controls for drug efficacy evaluation and other studies. Antibody inhibitors can also assist in verifying the functional activity of the target protein. These antibody inhibitors are active in vivo and can achieve certain physiological functions by blocking or neutralizing target proteins, such as CD20, HER2, EGFR, VEGFR, TNF-α, etc. In drug screening, antibody inhibitor-based screening can be carried out to identify active compounds targeting target proteins and target diseases.

MCE can provide 1,777 antibody inhibitors that can be used for drug development in cancer, immunity, infection and other hot research areas.

The occurrence of diseases is often associated with multiple targets and pathways, and the factors of disease formation are complex and diverse, so the development of more powerful drugs is needed. According to statistics, 21% of the FDA-approved drugs in 2015-2017 were multi-target compounds. Multi-target compounds refer to a drug targeting multiple disease-related targets or multiple subtypes of a target. Multi-target compounds can be applied to drug screening or targeted ligand design. Because the targets of such compounds are diverse and clear, they have the characteristics of saving time and drug cost during the mechanism research of new drug research and development. In addition, due to the diversity of drug targets, multiple strategies can be applied to pharmacological studies.

MCE supplies a unique collection of 6,758 multi-target compounds that targets two or more different targets or different subtypes of the same target. MCE Multi-Target Compound Library can be used for target protein ligand screening or drug development.

PROTACs (Proteolysis-targeting chimeras) is a class of molecules that utilize ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to ubiquitinate and degrade target proteins. The PROTACs molecule consists of two ligands joined by a linker. The one-to-one interaction between PROTACs and target proteins determines the high efficiency of PROTACs, making it a potential molecule for targeted protein degradation (TPD) therapy.

MCE supplies a unique collection of 515 PROTACs that effectively degrade target proteins with more powerful screening capability. MCE PROTAC Library is a useful tool for signal pathway research, protein degradation therapy research, drug discovery and drug repurposing, etc.

For thousands of years, natural products have always been an important source for drug discovery. Fungi, due to their unique and diverse secondary metabolic capabilities, have become a valuable resource for natural active molecules. Since the discovery of penicillin, natural products derived from fungi have demonstrated significant application value in areas such as anti-infection, anti-tumor, immune regulation, and metabolic disease research. A large number of clinical drugs, such as antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and lipid-lowering drugs, are derived from fungal metabolites or their structurally optimized derivatives.

MCE fungal-derived compound library contains 88 structurally diverse and bioactive fungal natural products and their derivatives. It can be widely applied in various research fields such as antibacterial, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, epigenetics, and cell signaling pathways, providing high-quality tools for natural product drug development and high-throughput screening.

Protein serine/threonine kinases (PSKs) are protein kinases that use ATP as a high-energy donor molecule to transfer phosphate groups to serine/threonine residues of target protein. As an important signal transduction regulator, serine/threonine kinases can affect the function of target proteins by disrupting enzyme activity or binding of target proteins to other proteins. Serine/threonine kinases are involved in the regulation of immune response, cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and other physiological processes. Serine/threonine kinase inhibitors are an important class of compounds that have been widely studied in cancer, chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, aging and other diseases.

MCE designs a unique collection of 2,162 serine/threonine kinase inhibitors, mainly targeting the receptor PKA, Akt, PKC, MAPK/ERK, etc, which is an effective tool for development and research of anti-cancer, anti-chronic inflammatory diseases, anti-autoimmune diseases and anti-aging compounds.